 Photo from acolorfuljourney.com The first line of Carolyn's "about me" page reads: "I’m Carolyn Dube, a little kid trapped in a grown up body…" so the first time I read it, I knew she was someone I should follow. I have days when I feel the same way. Days when my 11 year old self wants to be in total control -- and some days I can let that happen. When I do, it's amazing how much fun I have and how often I find myself reading Carolyn's blog in those moments when I need a jolt of inspiration. That "little kid" Carolyn speaks of is what makes her work so playful and full of color and life. She has to be one of the most imaginative mixed media artists out there. And, of course, there's her voice -- it's unmistakable. If you've not heard her speaking on one of her many YouTube videos, then you MUST go listen. She's got a great video voice. My first encounter with Carolyn and her work was through YouTube. That led me to her website, which led me to her FREE online course -- Use Your Words. From there, I fell in love with her art and her style of sharing it with the world. The above images are ©Carolyn Dube. I love how she uses color and how it's always so vibrant and "in your face" to make you happy. I admire her willingness to share her process with the world. That inspires me. The way she shows up in so many online art communities is also truly inspiring. And if you aren't aware of the AMAZING stencils she designs for StencilGirl, then you better hop on over there to check them out. They are MUST-HAVES for any art journaler or mixed media artist. If you are meeting Carolyn for the first time, you should totally go to all the cyber spots to check her out. Her blog: A Colorful Journey Her newsletter: Sign up here YouTube Channel Then, make sure you join her on Thursday, December 5th when she shares her blog hop post to see what she creates using the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™ -- I'm on pins and needles to see where her imagination takes us. She will be giving away one deck, so be sure to check out her post on the 5th!!! And make sure you join me in all the online places (Newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) so that you can enter to win a seat in Carolyn's newest course -- Stencil Play!!! If you're planning to art-along with us during the blog hop, be sure to order your deck TODAY. Happy creating, 
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 from mystele.com If you are anything like me, you likely go to YouTube when you are looking for new techniques or how-to videos on new supplies, or when you need a little artistic inspiration. Yep!! I'm a huge YouTube fan and advocate. I even watch YouTube videos while I'm on the treadmill getting my work-out on. But that's not what this post is about :-). This post is about how I found my kindred artistic spirit on YouTube. Please meet the amazing Mystele Kirkeeng!!!! I "met" Mystele virtually back in 2012 when I did a search for "mixed media art journaling" on YouTube. She was in a list of many, but her name stood out to me, so I clicked it and I've been addicted to her work ever since. There's a quite beauty to her art that really pulls me in. I find it soothing to watch her creation videos and see her creative process. And I love that she paints brown faces (something I struggle with during the color mixing process).     Mystele's work has inspired me to push the boundaries in my art journals. The way she seems to create with absolute freedom makes her one of my artistic sheros. I'm simply in awe of how her paintings evolve. So, imagine my delight when she agreed to be a part of the blog hop for The Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™ in December. I mean, she's a busy lady with the online community she runs -- Community Thrive, and the online classes she teaches -- Gut Art, and the upcoming mash-up of amazing artists in the Soul Food 6-month course (I'll be joining in AND we are giving away one seat in the class during the blog hop). All of these things are happening in her life and she still agreed to join the hop!!!! For this I am grateful and humbled. On December 6th, Mystele will share her creation using the MMID. I can't wait to see what she creates and how she uses the deck. I suspect she will, in true Mystele fashion, blow my mind!!! So make sure you are following her in all the usual places: Her blog, instagram, twitter, facebook, etc. If you're planning to art-along with us during the blog hop, be sure to order your deck TODAY. Happy creating,   from Stephanie's blog How many of you have had a moment in your art life where you read one blog post that shifted your day? I think I have those moments so rarely that when I have them, they are absolutely worth noting. I read and follow a lot of blogs on art and mixed media and creativity. So many, in fact, that I sometimes don't remember where I read what. But every-now-and-then I'll read a post that sticks with me. A post that makes me follow someone more closely and read their posts with more intention and care. I sometimes even find them so inspirational that I journal about it, make art inspired by it, or share it with others who I think it might inspire. That's how I came to be artistically inspired by Stephanie Ackerman. I can't really remember how I found her blog on the day I found it, but I'm not one to question serendipity. All I can say is that when I stumbled on this blog post by her, I was moved. So moved that I started to read her blog pretty regularly and eventually signed up for "A Whole New Doodle" (an online class with her) and ultimately worked up the nerve to ask her to join the December blog hop for The Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™. Yes!! Her blog post inspired me, but so does her artwork. Well, let me clarify -- not just the artwork, but the amazing way she takes her artwork and transforms it into functional, everyday items. I LOVE THAT!!! I'm inspired by that!!! I'm aspiring to that with my work.
So imagine my joy when Stephanie agreed to join the blog hop. You know I use a lot of exclamation points -- just imagine a page filled with them. That's me!! I was ridiculously giddy and filled with happiness (I'm smiling even as I type this blog entry). If you're new to Stephanie and all of her beautiful gifts to the world, then you are in for a treat. If you know and love her, then settle in and be more amazed by whatever loveliness she creates using the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™. Stephanie will be hopping with us on December 7th, so mark your calendars. In the meantime, head over to her blog. Check out her Monday Color Play posts, or her Tuesday Tutorials, or the beautifully doodled Wednesday Words, AND absolutely check out the online courses she offers. I'll be giving away a seat in one of her online classes, so make sure you sign up for my newsletter, follow me on twitter, and follow this blog so that you can be entered to win!! If you're planning to art-along with us during the blog hop, be sure to order your deck TODAY. Happy creating!!!   Title: Coptic Memory Structure: Coptic Bound Journal with Hard Cover Dimensions: Video of my process I'm so excited that I made a Coptic stitched journal this week. I learned to bind a book using this method back in 2009 when I was a student at Mills College studying under Julie Chen. As soon as she taught it to us I fell in love with it. I think I made a total of four while in her class. It's an easy stitch (once you've done it a few times) and I find that it's really great for art journaling because the spreads open flat. I think that is my favorite feature of this structure. The other thing I like about this structure is that you can use as many signatures as you want and play around with the kind of paper you include. I created one of these for my mother-in-law back in 2009. I never got to give it to her because she passed away the morning I was going to see her and hand deliver it. In her honor, I call the book Elegy, both for what the word elegy means and because her initials were LG and that just seems fitting -- "L--a--G".  Elegy (for Linda) Coptic Bound Journal with Watercolor Paper and Black Canson section dividers. ©2009, Kiala Givehand So making this week's book was all about memory. I pulled out Elegy to remind myself of the stitch and how it looks and functions. That led to Damon and I reminiscing about his mom and her creativity. She was probably one of the most creative women I know. I even pay homage to her in book 20 -- The Women Who Raised Me. The book I made this week, though, was really about remembering how to do the stitch so that I could start making more Coptic stitched books. As I started the process, I realized I needed a little refresher on the stitch, so I went to YouTube and watched this video by Sea Lemon (love her videos). This helped me recall the stitch and complete the book. I really put a lot of gel medium on the covers to hold down the many different papers I used to create the mosaic-styled cover. Oh!!! I must mention that the covers are collaged with bits of art from my original prints. Some are Gelli Plate prints and some are prints I made during an art retreat with Traci Bautista. It's always great to revisit a structure after being away from it for a while. I really LOVE sewing signatures (not sure why, but it brings me lots of joy). In true BIAD fashion, I created another Coptic journal the next morning (I've done this almost every week) for a silent auction to help raise money for a local elementary school in danger of closing. Here's a few pictures of that one.  Blank Mixed Media Journal Coptic Stitched with Hard Covers I'm looking forward to what this week brings. Stay tuned! If you're watching the videos, I'm honored! If you're making the books, I'm intrigued, so please share here or on the Giving Hands Creative Community site.   From Lorrie's Blog When I started sharing my creative journey on the Internet, I had no idea if anyone would pay attention or care, but that's just who Lorrie Jonas is -- she's an artist who pays attention and one who cares, and I'm delighted that our paths have crossed. One of the first things I did when I started making one book a week for the Book-in-a-Day series was to create an online creative community using NING. Lorrie was one of the FIRST few people to follow me who was not a friend of mine or a friend of a friend. And not only did she join the group, but she jumped right in and asked if she could help in any way. It was refreshing and kept me heading forward on my journey. Since then, Lorrie has joined me in two journal swaps that we conducted at the Giving Hands Creative Community and she's been a consistent presence on this journey. I'm so grateful to her. When I started to follow Lorrie's work, I realized that she's like so many of us in the mixed media world, she's in a lot of different places doing a lot of different things. She's runs a blog called Joyful Arts, provides video tutorials on YouTube, is a big part of two NING communities: Pamela Joy Purses, and Mixed Media Workshops. Basically, she's a hard working artist and I'm inspired by all that she does. Did I mention that she also does live tutorials on Wednesdays right here online? AND, yes, that's not all. She's involved in a fundraiser for a children's hospital in her area. YEP. Add that to the list. Lorrie's mixed media ATCs are what caught my attention on her website and I just fell in love with the beautiful colors and simple, but complex, layered techniques she uses (and teaches others to use).
I'm super excited that Lorrie will be joining in on the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck blog hop in December because I know her creations are going to be amazing and moving. Make sure you save the date for Lorrie's blog hop day (December 8th) and follow my blog and her blog, for a chance to win your very own Mixed Media Inspiration Deck and one of several other prizes!!! (to see the list of giveaway prizes, go to this blog post) More soon....  |
hello friend...I'm Kiala, a student of life first and foremost. And I'm also a published poet, book binder, fountain pen collector, Life Alchemist & Intuitive Soul Guide. I make things, paint things, and write things. I love teaching & empowering women to live with intention. Please, grab a cup of your favorite warm drink, a fountain pen, and your favorite journal. Let's connect!  My Articles for the StencilGirl® Blog
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